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Top-5 Buffalo Sabres Prospects to Watch in AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs

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As the NHL playoffs roll on, the Rochester Americans have just begun the 2025 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. On the roster are prospects Sabre fans will want to keep an eye on. Before we get into it, it’s important to note the Americans, or Amerks, had a very sucessful year. They finished the regular season with a 42-22-5-3 record. Good enough for second in the North division and sixth in the entire American Hockey League. The team is hoping for a deep playoff run, and how these players perform might affect what happens with the Sabres roster for the start of next season.

Buffalo Sabres Top Prospect Jiri Kulich

Kulich might not be an official prospect anymore, but he is still very inexperienced at the NHL level. He played in 61 games for the Sabres this season and recorded 24 points. He looked like he belonged, and showed promise of being a solid piece for the Sabres moving forward. Which is why it was a surprise to see the announcement he was rejoining the Amerks for the playoffs. Fans definitely have high hopes for the 21-year-old centre. Kulich had 45 points in 57 games played last season in Rochester.

Kulich should be in the lineup for the first game of the Sabres season in October. But for the time being, it should be fun watching him try and help the Amerks win a Calder Cup.

Prospect #2: Noah Ostlund

Ostlund was selected 16th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. That was actually 12 spots higher than Kulich in the same draft. Moreover, Ostlund played two seasons in Sweden and has just completed his first year in North American hockey. Ostlund spent most the season with the Amerks, scoring 36 points in 45 games. At the end of the year, the Sabres called Ostlund up to give him a taste of the NHL. He went scoreless in eight games before returning to Rochester for the playoffs. Sabres fans will have a little extra hope for Ostlund to do well. He was selected with the first round pick the Sabres received from the Las Vegas Golden Knights for Jack Eichel.

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Ostlund is a promising young player that is a major asset for the Sabres. It seems unlikely he starts in Buffalo next season, but with a good Calder Cup playoff run he might find himself at the top of the list of players to be called up. Alternatively, the Sabres may use him as a trade piece to aquire veteran talent. Either way, he should see NHL time next season if he can continue to perform in Rochester.

Prospect #3: Tyson Kozak

Tyson Kozak is one of those guys that made everyone smile when he was called up to the Sabres this season. Kozak was a 2021 seventh round, 193rd overall pick. Every year he impressed at prospect camps. Kozak has played the last three seasons with the Amerks. this season he had five points in 21 games with the Sabres. He spent most of that time playing the fourth-line centre role, and if he does see more time with the Sabres, it will probably be in a similar role.

Kozak is a good story, and deserving of NHL time. However, he is competing for the fourth-line centre role with Peyton Krebs, an established NHLer who has made the most of that role. Good playoff or poor playoff with the Amerks, Kozak should find himself back in Rochester to start next season. NHL time will most likely be to fill an injury slot in the bottom six.

Prospect #4: Isak Rosen

Isak Rosen is probably the person on this list most desperate for a good playoff in Rochester. Rosen was drafted 14th overall in 2021 and has spent the last three seasons with the Amerks and the Sabres. The 22 year old is a talented winger who is having success in Rochester. Rosen notched 55 points in 61 games played last season. However, he has had one point in 15 games with the Sabres over the past two seasons. Kulich has passed Rosen in the pipeline pecking order, and saw similar time in the NHL as did Noah Ostlund this season.

Rosen is a very good American Hockey League player. The best shot for Rosen to gain substantial playing time in the NHL is a very good Calder Cup run this season. If he can have a better playoff than his Swedish teammate, Ostlund, he may establish himself as the winger to be called up for a top-nine spot. The other option for Rosen is to be traded. He is still only 22, but the Sabres pipeline is filling up. He may have more value to a team low on prospects than the Sabres. Either way, he’ll need to have a good playoff to ensure call ups to the NHL next season.

Prospect #5: Devon Levi

Devon Levi, is a beast. Probably THE prospect to watch in these playoffs. Devon Levi will be a starter in the NHL again. He already was in the 2022-2023 season right after finishing his collegiate career. Levi has struggled to maintain success in the NHL but has killed it in the AHL. In 42 games played, Levi had a 2.20 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. Levi needed a full season to develop into a pro goaltender. This year was that year.

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What makes things interesting with Levi, is what role he will have with the Sabres in 2025-2026. Will he be the starter over Luukkonen after he had a poor season for the Sabres? If Levi does become the starter, he could be the solution to a problem for the Sabres. Or will he be the backup to Luukkonen, or will they 1A-1B the two goaltenders. Either way Levi has earned more time in the NHL.

Fans will want to keep an eye on these players because it is very likely they’ll be wearing a Sabres crest at somepoint next season. Until then fans can watch this very talented team compete in the postseason, something they haven’t seen in Buffalo for 14 years.

Main Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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